Lakeville, MN Accessory Structures: Tiny Homes (2026)

Minnesota does not have a statewide tiny-home mandate; legality depends on the building code and local zoning. Any tiny home used as a permanent residence in Lakeville must be a code-compliant dwelling under the Minnesota Residential Code (which includes Appendix Q for tiny houses) and must satisfy Lakeville's zoning ordinance. Under Minnesota's definitions, a manufactured home is a single-family dwelling that, when erected on site, is 320 or more square feet, and site-built homes face additional minimum-size and habitable-room standards. Lakeville's zoning does not establish a distinct 'tiny home' use; its smallest residential allowance is the accessory dwelling unit, which must be located within the principal building, joined by an unlockable interior connection, and limited to 30% of the principal building's gross floor area. A free-standing tiny house used as a separate second residence does not fit the city's interior-ADU model. A tiny house on wheels (a recreational-vehicle-style unit) is not a permanent single-family dwelling under the ordinance, and recreational vehicles may not be parked or stored on public property or street rights-of-way. Anyone considering a tiny home should confirm with the Lakeville Planning and Building Inspection Departments which zoning district and building-code path applies, because the structure must meet full residential-code, foundation, utility, and setback requirements.